The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 299: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE CONSULTATION 279 ‘Well, I’m not over and above surprised to hear this,”’ observed the landlord of the dark crib. ‘‘ Of course Larry Sampson knows all these things; his spies are everywhere — ” ‘“ Wait a moment, old fellow,’ exclaimed Coffin, ‘‘ and just hear what the third part of this great book says. It’s a sort of narrative or journal of all Larry’s proceedings, adventures, and enterprises; and what will you think when I tell you that that knife-grinding fellow which we chucked over into the ditch was never drowned at all, but is alive and kicking at this moment.”’ “No, by jingo! is this true?” cried Bencull, turning deadly pale. ‘‘ Why, ’tis enough to hang us all!” and he put his hand to his throat, as if he already experienced the unpleasant sensation produced by the contact of a halter. ‘“‘I can’t be hanged for it, at all events,’ exclaimed Daniel Coffin, “‘ seeing that I’ve got the royal pardon safe and sound in my pocket. But you haven’t heard quite all yet; for if you are astonished at what I’ve already told you, I don’t know how you'll feel when I tell you that the knife-grinder and Larry Sampson were one and the same person. ”’ ‘“‘ Nonsense! ”’ ejaculated Bencull, half-starting from his chair, and chucking down his pipe so abruptly upon the table that it broke into a dozen pieces. ‘‘ You are either mad or drunk, Dan’el. Which the devil is it? ”’ ‘“‘ Neither, you fool,’’ answered the Hangman, with one of his characteristic growls. ‘‘ What I tell you is true; and more than that, I have read in the great book sufficient to show me that Larry Sampson is acquainted with the secrets of nearly the whole lot of cross-coves in London.”’ “But why doesn’t he take us up by hundreds, and have us hung by twenties at a time?” asked Bencull, gathering courage from the reflection which prompted the query. ‘Why, don’t you see,’ exclaimed Coffin, impatiently, ‘that there’s a wide deal of difference between knowing all these kind of things, and being able to get together the necessary evidence to convict a chap at the Old Bailey. But you do see that Larry is constantly nabbing fellows under extraordinary circumstances. Look how he ferrets them out, traces their whole proceedings, follows them, as one may say, step by step, from the moment they plan a crime till the instant it is completed, brings the whole mass (CONNIE OO (EO) im